Sizzling Rockets charge to 55-49 halftime lead

The Houston Rockets hit 58.5 percent in the first half en route to a 55-49 halftime lead over the Spurs.

Kevin Martin hit for 11 points and Courtney Lee added nine points off the bench as Houston has led the entire half after jumping to a 9-0 lead to start the game.

The Spurs are playing without Tim Duncan, but Tony Parker has stepped up to provide 13 points and seven assists in his absence. And Tiago Splitter has made the most of Duncan’s absence to fill the stat sheet with with 11 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Even after the slow start, the Spurs charged back to 26-23 before Goran Dragic’s hoop gave Houston a 28-23 lead after one quarter.

The Spurs forged a tie at 41-41 on Parker’s jumper, but the Rockets closed the half on a 12-6 spurt punctuated by a dunk by Samuel Dalembert that boosted them to the halftime advantage.

Splitter’s production has been a revelation. But in order to sneak out of the Toyota Center with a victory, they must improve their 2-for-11 3-point shooting. Matt Bonner, starting in place of Duncan, is 2 for 8 beyond the arc in the first half.